HR: 11:05h
AN: ED12A-03
TI: Using my ARMADA Research Experience to Enhance Teaching
AU: * Harris, M
EM: maharris@dsdmail.net
AB:
I am a high school Biology teacher living in Layton, Utah. I was chosen to participate in the 2006 ARMADA
Project. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation and administered by the University of
Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. The project focuses on a mentoring experience coupled with a summer scientific research for teachers. I wish to present how I am incorporating the University of Rhode Island training experience and my scientific
research field experience into my classroom teaching. My research experience was in the Eastern Tropical
Pacific estimating current dolphin populations. Other projects I worked on were sea turtle tagging, squid
sampling, fish sampling, whale biopsy, and CTD deployment. The knowledge I gleaned from the University of
Rhode Island to incorporate into my classroom came from Roger Williams University aquaculture program. I am presently doing two ongoing projects with my students. We are aquaculturing zebra fish, by using this
tool I am able to teach each state directed objective with the hands on experience of raising zebra fish. The
second project I am involved with is the Great Salt Lake project. The high school environmental club owns a
26 foot sailboat on the Great Salt Lake. Every Saturday we take 6 students out on the lake and record
position, visibility, water temperature, and salinity. We are also sampling brine shrimp and bottom bacteria for
wet lab work. This is a new and innovative approach for me to teach Biology. The information and experience I was able to
receive over the summer of 2006 has greatly enhanced the way I teach. I would like the opportunity to share
my experiences and how I have incorporated them into my classroom. I will use power point to share my
strategies and will answer questions on the practical application of these projects in the classroom. My students have grasped these 2 projects and inquiry questions have risen. Global warming and lake
temperature are now being paralleled. Food web and habitat are continually discussed and there is an
excitement that is refreshing. I do hope to share my experiences with others.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0830 Teacher training
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2006 Fall Meeting